Kevin Dunion has been elected by students to take over the role of Rector at the University of St Andrews.

The man responsible for enforcing Scotland’s freedom of information laws will succeed current Rector Simon Pepper, on completion of his three year term.

Mr Dunion was one of three Scots in the running for the role, with Colin Fox and Sir Chay Blyth also taking part in the hotly contested elections held today (Friday 31 October 2008).

Born in Bridge of Allan, Mr Dunion is the first and current Scottish Information Commissioner and is based in St Andrews.

Elections took place by single transferable vote and the winning candidate was announced at 8pm. Mr Dunion, who will officially take up his post tomorrow (Saturday 1 November), won by 941 votes to Fox’s 515 and Blyth’s 401. The total vote count of 1859 represented 26% of the full-time student population at St Andrews.

Former Rectors of St Andrews include Frank Muir, John Cleese, Sir Clement Freud and Rudyard Kipling. The Rector is elected by the matriculated students of the University, holds office for three years, and presides over the University Court.

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS:

For further information on the role of the Rector visit: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/about/UniversityGovernmentandOrganisation/TheRector/

For further information on the winning candidate please contact the student proposer: